By Prarthana Mitra
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman embarked on her first visit to Russia on April 3, to attend the seventh Moscow Conference on International Security, according to the Indian Embassy in Moscow.
Over her three day tour, Sitharaman is expected to lead talks over the S-400 Triumf deal for India, a crucial deal for defence preparedness according to the defence ministry. Sitharaman is also slated to meet with Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, and others.
Why is the S-400 deal crucial for homeland security?
The S-400 Triumf is an interceptor-based air defence system, according to a report by the Diplomat. Procuring this multifunctional, medium and long-range anti-aircraft weapon system (AAWS) was part of a 2016 contract between India and Russia , and is seen as the primary agenda for Sitharaman’s visit. China has already acquired these advanced AAWS and is the first to purchase the S-400 Triumf from Russia. China’s move likely sparked India’s eagerness to seal the deal with Russia .
Seetharaman’s Moscow visit is likely to end in a Rs 40,000 crore bid.The deal has been purported to be essential in aiding India improve its border security against Pakistani and Chinese insurgents, and comes at a crucial time, with the Indian armed forces allegedly facing an acute shortage in fighter squadrons.
The new S-400 Triumf has a multifunctional radar which facilitates altitude radar system. The air defence system also comes equipped with four anti-aircraft guided missile launchers and a mobile tower for antenna checkpoint.The S-400 Triumf boasts of being capable of destroying enemy fighter jets , reconnaissance aircrafts, missiles, spy drones, as well as targeting planes from a distance of 400km at the maximum altitude of 3000 meters.
So far, The Indian Air Force has , depended on Russian-made MiG-21 & Su-30 MKI, UK-made SEPECAT Jaguar, French-made Mirage 2000 and six indigenously-made HAL Tejas, according to Financial Express.
A tactical move towards reviving cooperation
India is also looking to partner up with Russia to obtian upgraded technology for Russian systems in Indian service. The Indian government also hopes that the S-400 Triumf deal could help them gain Russia’s support in manufacturing spares for T-90 tanks, Sukhoi jets, MI and Kamov helicopters and other frigates However, India wants them to be made in India to boost its Make-II procedure.
On March 30, Moscow offered to sell MiG-29s to India ahead of Sitharaman’s meet, a move that was hailed as refreshingly pragmatic by the India media.
India’s participation in the international conference and the prospective meeting between the Indian defence minister and her Russian counterpart was announced by the defence ministry in a press release. The meeting is in “keeping with the tradition of high level exchanges between India and Russia and will provide an opportunity to reinforce the traditional warm and friendly relations that exists between the two countries, with particular reference to military technical cooperation,” the defence ministry said in a statement.
Russia’s annual conference in international security is scheduled to be held on April 4-5 and
will focus on discussing security issues faced in Syria, Europe, South-Asia and Latin America, in addition to chalking up effective ways to deal with post-war rehabilitation in West Asia.
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